[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 208 (Wednesday, December 10, 2025)]
[House]
[Pages H5120-H5121]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          HONORING ELISA McKAY

  (Ms. Plaskett of the Virgin Islands was recognized to address the 
House for 5 minutes.)
  Ms. PLASKETT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express condolences on the 
passing of Elisa McKay. I want to share that the Virgin Islands has 
lost one of its great creative and cultural visionaries with the 
passing of Ms. McKay.
  Her creative spirit and generous heart touched countless lives across 
the island of St. Croix and throughout our territory and, indeed, not 
just the Caribbean but other places.
  As a self-taught artist, she channeled what she described as divine 
expression, creating work that reflected her deep love for our islands, 
our culture, and our people. Her art was an extension of her soul. It 
was vibrant, authentic, and deeply rooted in her Crucian roots.
  Beyond her artistic talent, Elisa dedicated herself to uplifting our 
community in so many ways. She served as an educator, taught yoga for 
four decades, worked tirelessly with our seniors through the Interfaith 
Coalition, and gave her time and wisdom to numerous organizations, 
including Unity of St. Croix, the St. Croix Environmental Association, 
and the Women's Coalition of St. Croix.
  Her compassion, spiritual leadership, and commitment to service made 
our Virgin Islands a better place. Ms. McKay lived with purpose and 
love, seeing the divine in everyone she encountered.
  My heartfelt condolences go out to her daughter, Ayanna, who she 
considered her greatest accomplishment. To all who knew and loved her, 
may her memory be a blessing and may her artistic legacy continue to 
inspire us for generations to come.


                     Honoring Gerville Rene Larsen

  Ms. PLASKETT. Mr. Speaker, the Virgin Islands has lost one of its 
great creative and cultural visionaries with the passing of Gerville 
Rene Larson.
  Everyone knows Gerville was more than an architect. He was a steward 
of our history and an artist of our identity. His work captured the 
spirit of these islands, ensuring that the stories of our people and 
the beauty of our heritage were preserved for generations to come.
  After earning his degree in architecture from Cornell, Gerville 
returned home to his beloved St. Croix, choosing to live in his 
grandparents' home in the heart of Times Square, in downtown 
Christiansted. From there, he poured his heart into our community, 
using his immense talent to collaborate with both public and private 
sectors on projects dedicated to historic architectural preservation. 
Through his firm, Taller Larjas, LLC, he designed with reverence for 
our past and vision for our future.

  I was blessed to know Gerville, not only as a respected colleague on 
boards and an admired fellow Hillsider descendent, but as my neighbor 
and my friend. Our best talks were as we were cleaning the respective 
streets we lived on, meeting up, hailing each other as neighbors, and 
then going into a deep discussion about the beauty of Christiansted and 
the history of the free

[[Page H5121]]

enslaved people who lived in the hills of Christiansted and what that 
heritage meant to each one of us.
  Gerville's belief that architecture is a vessel for culture and 
memory continues to guide us. His mark is visible through the Virgin 
Islands but particularly on St. Croix, in the buildings he restored, 
the spaces he reimagined, and the lives he touched. I am grateful that 
my own son, Christian, was able as a young architecture major to have 
interned and been mentored by Gerville.
  My heartfelt condolences go out to his family, especially his mom, 
his friends, and his colleagues. May his memory live forever. May his 
legacy inspire us to continue building with purpose, pride, and love 
for our Virgin Islands.
  Mr. Speaker, he will be deeply missed by his circle of friends, 
family, and the entire Virgin Islands community. We are thankful for 
his lifelong contributions to preserving the character and soul of our 
home.

                          ____________________